Slaves, Western Maryland

Recruiting has been going on briskly in some of the Districts in this county within the last few days. A number of the Districts have filled their quotas, whilst several have a surplus of volunteers. The Hagerstown District, we understand, lacks but three men of having its full complement, and probably by this time it is complete. Quite a number of “Afric’s sable sons” enlisted in this town and have gone off to the war.

Enrollment of Slaves.

Pursuant to an order emanating from Capt. James Smith, Provost Marshall of the Fourth District of Maryland, the slaves of Washington County have been enrolled.

Mr. Alfred Barber, the enrolling officer of the subdistrict included Hagerstown has completed his labor and sums up a total of slaves subject to do military duty at twenty three. Of these eighteen come under class one and the remaining five under class two.

TO LOYAL SLAVE OWNERS.—
Compensation for ENLISTED SLAVES procured by
F. P. STEVENS, Attorney at Law,
48 Lexington Street, Baltimore.
February 10, 1864

Money for Contrabands—None for the People.

Loyal Maryland

Millions of dollars worth of property was destroyed in our county by the Army - much of it wantonly - and there is no provision made by Congress for payment. And what right have we to expect anything from this Abolition Congress at least until they have got through with the wants of the negro? Millions can be appropriated without delay for the emancipation of the negro, not when the suffering white people of this county demand their aid, a pretext for delay is easily found.

The CONTRABANDS.—

The Harvest. —

Our farmers are in the midst of their harvest labors, having generally commenced cutting on or about the 4th of July. A large proportion of every farmer’s crops is lodged and tangled, which renders the work of gathering it exceedingly tedious and laborious, so much so, indeed, as to protract the harvest many days beyond the time usually required to get through with it. Hands are also said to be scarce, a number of farmers having been obliged to avail themselves of the services of “Contrabands,” and wages high.
 

IMPORTANT ORDER CONCERNING FUGITIVE SLAVES

The following important order was issued at Washington yesterday:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D. C.
July 7, 1861.
General Order No. 83,

Fugitive slaves will under no pretext whatever be permitted to reside or be in any way harbored in the quarters and camps of the troops serving in this Department. Neither will such travel be allowed to accompany troops on the march.

Commanders of troops will be responsible for a strict observance of this order.

We understand by Mr. John L. Smith, clerk of the County Commissioners that the slave property of County stricken from the assessment this spring amounts to the sum of $182,330 and belonged to the districts as follows
Sharpsburg – 16,770
Williamsport 34,375
Hagerstown – 22,465
Clearspring – 22,950
Hancock – 12,545
Boonsboro – 19,325
Cavetown – 13, 440
Pleasant Valley - 22,348
Leitersburg – 4,000
Funkstown – 14,055
 

Slave Statistics.

The last News contains a table of the number and value, age and sex, of the Slaves in Washington County, which was prepared for that paper by Mr. HARBAUGH, and from which we quote as follows: